SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT: Tattoo ink danger

Tatto Ink

For Rafa Bertelli, the intricate tattoo on his left arm is a work of art. It is the picture of a flowing Phoenix bird. He is proud of it, but every now and then his Phoenix gives him problems. Rafa said, "It gets just really itchy and you look down and it's puffed up."

Rafa is allergic to the tattoo. He is not alone. Doctor Doug Powell, a University Healthcare dermatologist said, "I have seen quite a few tattoos where people have had allergic reactions."


"And if you're allergic to a tattoo in the skin, that's a problem, because there is no easy way to get rid of it," said Dr. Powell.

The specific problem: the ink. Some have been found to have a long list of heavy metals, allergens, even a carcinogen or two. The FDA routinely regulates hair dyes and cosmetics, but is only now beginning to consider regulating tattoo inks. In a publication posted on it's website entitled "Think before you ink", the agency admits, "Many pigments used in tattoo inks are industrial-grade colors suitable for printers' ink or automobile paint."

Jared Preslar, the owner and tattoo artist at Lucky Bamboo in Layton said, "There's hundreds of different types of pigments and manufacturers." Preslar said he uses only vegetable based pigments, "They're made here. I actually know the guy who makes them. He's very particular... hand mixes all of his pigments and is very focused on quality and what's going into the pigment."

"(I have) never had any reactions to the pigments I use," Preslar said.

Even so, he knows about the bad inks, "There are also pigments that have polymers and acrylics and people ... I've seen a lot of reactions from those.  The worst ones that I know of are being made here in the US -- the glow in the dark and UV activated are some of the worst ones."

And once you've got the ink under your skin, getting rid of it is no easy process.

Just ask Casey Storm. We watched as she underwent her 4th laser treatment to remove a tattoo on her ankle. She didn't show it, but afterwards confessed that laser tattoo removal hurts every bit as much as getting the tattoo in the first place.

She did not have an allergic reaction, but was having the tattoo removed for other, personal reasons. "The tattoo lasted longer than the friendship," she said. Still, Casey expressed surprised when told that the FDA does not test or control the ingredients in tattoo ink, "It does surprise me that it's not regulated."

Matt Arnold is the owner of Ink Doubt. He believes the FDA should have gotten involved in the tattoo industry years ago. "There are so many people out there, for lack of a better term, are scratchers.  And they're going to harm you," said Arnold who is having one of his own tattoos removed. "They're going to put something on your body that you're going to regret the next day."

Despite his allergic reaction, Rafa is happy with his tattoo and has no plans to remove it.

But for others who didn't bargain on the rashes, itching and worse, the laser is the best among limited options.

Jared Presler recommends that anyone who wants a tattoo should do their homework. He said too many tattoo artists do not. "That's the scary part," he explained. "There are a lot of artists that don't do any research and don't know what they're putting into people's bodies and that's where I think regulation is a good idea." abc4